There is finally a bit of closure in the Markelle Fultz saga, as the Sixers point guard has officially been diagnosed with Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Exactly how long Fultz will be on the shelf remains to be seen, but Sixers head coach Brett Brown is hoping to reincorporate him into the lineup when that time comes:
“Personally, I'm happy that there has been some judgement, there has been an assessment,” Brown said during Wednesday's media availability. “I had a quick exchange with Markelle yesterday. Moving forward, I think it's still waiting to get him back with us and help him get back on the court.
“At the moment, we miss him,” Brown added. “I miss his company. I miss him not being around. He for sure could be an integral part of us trying to continue to win games. But immediately, my thought goes into how do we get him back with us as soon as we can. I'm excited to get him back as soon as we're able.”
#Sixers coach Brett Brown on @MarkelleF pic.twitter.com/uHNXZtRZH8
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) December 5, 2018
Known as TOS, Fultz's ailment affects nerves between the neck and shoulder. This condition causes abnormal functional movement and range of motion, which could be why the former No. 1 overall pick has been struggling with his shooting form. For now, he's listed as “out indefinitely,” but there is some hope that he will return to the lineup this season. In fact, some feel that he could return after three to six weeks of physical therapy.
“People were saying it was a mental problem and it is not,” Brothers told ESPN on Tuesday night. “There's no way you're the No. 1 pick in the world and all of a sudden you aren't able to consistently raise your arms to shoot a basketball. Something is physically wrong. Now we have the answer to that problem.”
The Sixers will look to extend their four-game winning streak on Wednesday night, when they'll face the Toronto Raptors. Tip-off inside Scotiabank Arena is set for 8:00 p.m. ET with ESPN having live broadcast coverage.
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